RPRA Update

ROYAL PIGEON RACING ASSOCIATION
COVID-19
RACING CONTINGENCY – RACE PROGRAMMES

The following document is applicable to those organisations that organise racing and will hopefully assist in ensuring a smooth transition towards facilitating racing if and when restrictions are lifted.
Under the rules of the association race programmes are required by 1st March 2020 – rule 129. This provides RPRA staff with sufficient time to collate race programmes, book sites and also meet the General license requirements for gatherings (the law).
Taking into consideration these requirements and the uncertainties relating to when racing will commence, organisations are encouraged to develop race programme contingencies.
Race programmes should initially be formed on the assumption that current Government restrictions will be relaxed by 7th May which will allow members to commence training their pigeons. This will hopefully mean that a realistic start to racing would be 23rd May – or later if the organisation considers necessary. This will also provide sufficient lead in time to allow the RPRA to meet the requirements stated above.
Organisations should form two race programmes. One based on Continental racing being permitted and one based on no continental racing.
While the current restrictions are in place organisations will not be able to meet to discuss and develop race programmes. Therefore organisations should adopt a different approach; online meeting tools such as ‘Zoom’, email or telephone.
As stated this is based on a major assumption regarding how and when restrictions will be lifted and it maybe that this assumption turns out to be rather optimistic. This document/guidance will therefore be amended and circulated periodically to reflect the current position.
We need to be in a position to react quickly and ensure racing starts as soon as possible.
Therefore, we will require all contingency/amended race programmes at least 21 days before the first race.
The attached document should be completed and returned via post to The Reddings. However given the current delays to some Royal Mail services it is advisable to send the documents via email to racingsupport@rpra.org for inland race programmes and continentalracing@rpra.org for continental race programmes.
Drivers and Convoyers
In addition it is assumed that the restrictions relating to over 70s and people with underlying health conditions will remain in place beyond the start date of racing. Therefore organisations will have to put in place contingency plans.
Under no circumstances should individuals that fall within the ‘at risk’ category and who are restricted by Government be allowed to take part in the transportation of pigeons to the liberation site.
Consideration should also be given to the possibility that Government restrictions may also mean that more than one person from different households cannot travel in the same vehicle.
A further document outlining protocols at marking stations etc. and based on the predicted relaxation to restriction measures, is currently being reviewed and will be published asap.


Julia
Julia Field

Don't no if anything will come out of this might just be all speculation but it seams one or two ate getting excited about what's been written

read on internet, some are more concerned about racing pigeons than protecting them selves and family against this virus, its hardly the end of the world if theres no racing for a season .........they need to get a grip .

Totally agree their dave racing would be good but its on t the end of the world or is it

I think they’re being wildly optimistic with their dates.

markevans wrote:

Totally agree their dave racing would be good but its on t the end of the world or is it

For some it would be Mark it appears . Rome burns all around them etc & the most important issue is racing pigeons apparently. & my screen here, now is 1 hand by 1 hand as I post etc. Have a strange type feeling thou Rog is playing tricks on me some how .

seen a few ideas knocking about but rpra say not to get too excited it dont mean we can start training its just a guide so they can book the sites for liberation thats all ,these dates mean nowt regards training our birds ,as it is nothing has changed ,think it lucky extremely lucky if we get any racing at all ...i am more up-beat for some one loft racing and at least some training with our club ,cant see us racing as our club is strictly t3 and rubbers and manual clocks will make distancing difficult ,if we get the nod to race then will have to get our thinking caps on but most important is family and freinds health before any pigeon race

Had a scare with daughter in law, who works with those with drug and mental health problems.

She had virus symptoms and had to go home, she lives near us and is a few minutes away from our hospital but had to go to York hospital for a test an hours run away.

Good news just come through she has not got the virus.

Agree racing is not the most important thing at the moment.


However, it would make a nice break from the doom and gloom, but when you take the numbers involved it is insignificant in the general run of things.

Think the most important thing is to protect those putting their life in danger for others protection.

The less cases the better this can be done if people abide by the rules and lifting restrictions before sensible will not do so.

Regards.

Just read that Trump has proof the virus escaped from a Chinese Lab, what were they intending doing with it in the first place ?.

Regards,

biological warfare misty, as i said weeks ago, man made ...........if it did originate from china we will never know, but it is man made to reduce the population .

My wife agrees with you David. However, as long as I do not get it I do not really care. Trump says stupid things at times. I beleive he will get re-elected. He did initially dismiss the virus. Unfortunately he did not drink bleach...

A month ago I felt there wasn't a hope in hell of any racing in UK this year, now I'm starting to think 2 or 3 old bird races and a shorter YB season starting later might happen.

As for the virus itself my thoughts it was derived from people eating wild animals that eat other live creatures, the Wuhan virus institution probably been researching this and it's been carried out of the facility by staff based there unaware of the carnage to follow.

I'm sticking to eating animals that only eat grass!

Interesting Hal.

Who knows who is telling the truth now a days ?.

Politics has always been a hot bed of liars and sometimes thieves.

Just wonder what the outcome will be short term (because I see no long term future if left to mankind} if it is proven beyond doubt that the virus was let loose on purpose, knowing what the effect could be ?.


Regards.

The Essex central Fed gave us our race programme yesterday, 1st race 23rd May.

Boosey wrote:

The Essex central Fed gave us our race programme yesterday, 1st race 23rd May.

3 week off then boosey, sounds positive news .....maybe racing will go ahead after all .

Out of the 8 members in my club, I will be the only one allowed out at that time

Boosey wrote:

The Essex central Fed gave us our race programme yesterday, 1st race 23rd May.

i see where ya got the date now david ...cant see this happening for a 23rd may start

i got a text message darren, one ian evans sent out to clubs / feds etc